Go for 2020! The Nippon Foundation Para Arena

The Parasports Gymnasium – Open on June 1, 2018

The Nippon Foundation Para Arena was established by the Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center in order to strengthen and improve the circumstances of Paralympic Sports. The arena is introduced universal design and can be used not only for trainings by the athletes of the Paralympic Sports National Federations but also various events aiming at dissemination of para sports.

The brand-new arena incorporates universal design principles and was made to be easy to use. Its design is chic and understated, and based on a monotone color palette.

Visitors to the arena are greeted at the entrance with Legos by professional Lego builder Jumpei Mitsui, recreating a mural by Shingo Katori, Special Supporter of Parasapo, inspiring our key message “i enjoy !”.

Parasapo staff explained the various aspects of the facility to the guests and members of the media, as they went around the facility asking questions and taking photos.

On the opening day of the arena, demonstrations were conducted for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, boccia, wheelchair fencing, para table tennis, and para powerlifting. Watching them practice and use their equipment is something not many people have an opportunity to see, and the guests and media were rapt.

Para powerlifting athlete Hideki Odo with Yoshiro Mori, President of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games

The wheelchair rugby Japan team, surrounded by members of the media, go all-in on practice

Boccia player Takayuki Hirose plays boccia against members of the wheelchair rugby Japan team. Already there is interaction and communication amongst the para athletes.

In the coming years, the arena will be loaned out for free to sports associations and club teams in an effort to strengthen para athlete ability in advance of the Tokyo Paralympics, which is coming up in approximately two years. There are also plans to utilize it for publicization and educational events to spread more knowledge about parasports in general. To use the facility (free), you must go through the pre-registration process* and make a reservation.* Registration involves a screening process.